Portable tool case and tool combination

ABSTRACT

A tool case device includes a retaining member attached to a base member of a case, one or more pockets attached to the case and each having an opening to receive a tool. The tool includes a pair of levers having a middle pivotal shaft, each of the levers includes a handle on one end and a tool member on the other end. Another retaining member is attached to the middle portion of the pocket, to selectively engage with the retaining member of the base member. The retaining members are located between the handles of the levers, to detachably retain the tool in the pocket, and may be quickly disengaged from each other when the tool is pulled out of the pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool case, and more particularly to a tool case combination having a retaining structure or device to solidly retain such as plier tools in the tool case.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical tool cases have been developed and comprise a number of pockets formed or provided therein to receive various kinds of tools therein.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,758,798 to Schmidt, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,535 to Cook, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,059 to Bosch et al. disclose three of the typical tool cases each having a number of pockets to receive various kinds of tools therein.

The pockets of the case are required to be formed with an open top, for allowing the tools to be engaged into the pockets of the case. However, the tools may also be easily disengaged from the pockets of the case via the open top of the tool case.

In which, U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,059 to Bosch et al. provides a magnetic tool holder having one or more magnetic members to magnetically attract and retain the tools within the tool case. However, the magnetic tool holder may not be used to magnetically attract and retain the non-magnetic tools within the tool case; i.e., the tools may not be magnetically attracted and retained in the tool case by the magnetic members.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional tool cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tool case combination including a retaining structure or device to solidly retain such as plier tools in the tool case.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool case combination comprising a case including a base member, a first retaining member attached to the base member, at least one pocket provided on the case, and including an opening formed therein and defined by a panel, the panel and the pocket including a middle portion, a tool including a pair of levers having a middle portion pivotally secured together with a pivot shaft, each of the levers including a handle provided on one end and a tool member provided on the other end thereof, the tool being engageable into the pocket via the opening of the pocket, and a second retaining member attached to the middle portion of the panel of the pocket, to selectively engage with the first retaining member of the base member. The first retaining member of the base member and the second retaining member of the panel of the pocket are located between the handles of the levers, to detachably retain the tool in the pocket, and may be easily and quickly disengaged from each other when the tool is pulled out of the pocket.

The base member includes a sleeve having a channel formed therein. The base member includes a clip attached thereto for attaching onto objects.

The case further includes a second pocket provided on the case and having an opening formed therein and defined by a flap for selectively receiving the tool, a third retaining member attached to the base member, the flap of the second pocket includes a middle portion having a fourth retaining member attached thereto and selectively engageable with the third retaining member of the base member, and the third retaining member of the base member and the fourth retaining member of the flap of the second pocket being selectively located between the handles of the levers, to selectively and detachably retain the tool in the second pocket.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a tool case combination in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the tool case combination;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the tool case combination;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating the operation of the tool case combination;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 are perspective views illustrating the formation of the tool case combination; and

FIGS. 8. 9 are front perspective views illustrating the operation of the tool case combination as shown in FIGS. 5-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a tool case combination in accordance with the present invention comprises a case 10 made of or formed with woven or non-woven cloth materials, plastic materials, leather materials or other sheet-like materials.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, and 5-7, the case 10 preferably includes a longitudinal strap-shaped base member 11 having one end panel or lower end panel 12 folded upward or toward the base member 11. The end panel 12 includes two side edges 13 secured to the base member 11 with such as stitches 14, adhesive materials, or the like, in order to form a pocket 15 which includes an opening 16 for receiving tools 70 therein, particularly the plier tools 70 therein.

The case 10 includes the other end panel or upper end panel 17 folded downward or toward the base member 11, and having a free edge 18 secured to the base member 11 with such as stitches, adhesive materials, or the like, in order to form a sleeve 19 which includes a channel 20 laterally formed therein for receiving a fastener belt 80 (FIGS. 4, 9) or the like therein, with which the case 10 may be attached to the users or various supporting members (not shown). The above-described structure for the case 10 is typical and will not be described in further details.

As shown in FIG. 3, the case 10 may further include a clip 21 or the like attached to the rear or back portion thereof, for allowing the case 10 to be hooked onto the users or various supporting members (not shown), such as the waist belts of users.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more further sheet members 23 may further be provided and secured to the base 10, in order to form one or more further pockets 24 for receiving tools 70 therein, particularly the plier tools 70 therein.

For example, the sheet member 23 includes two flaps 25, 26 folded toward each other to form the pocket 24. One of the flaps 26 may be solidly secured to the base 10, and the other flap 25 may include two side edges 27 secured to the base member 11 and/or the flap 26 with such as stitches 28, adhesive materials, or the like, in order to form the pocket 24 which includes an opening 29 to receive the tools 70 or plier tools 70 therein.

The case 10 includes one or more retaining members 81, 82 attached thereto and arranged close to the respective pockets 15, 24, and each of the pockets 15, 24 includes another retaining members 83, 84 attached thereto, such as attached to the inner and middle portion of the respective panel 12 or flap 25, to engage with the retaining members 81, 82 of the base 10, and to detachably lock or latch or secure the middle and upper portion of the respective pockets 15, 24, and thus to retain the tools 70 within the respective pockets 15, 24.

Each of the tools 70 includes a pair of levers 71 having a middle portion pivotally secured together with a pivot shaft 72, and each having a handle 73 provided on one end and a tool member 74 provided on the other end thereof.

The retaining members 81, 82 of the base 10 and the retaining members 83, 84 of the pockets 15, 24 are arranged or disposed between the handles 73 of the tool 70, in order to stably retain the tool 70 within the respective pockets 15, 24, best shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9.

It is preferable that the retaining members 81, 82 of the base 10 and the retaining members 83, 84 of the pockets 15, 24 are detachable adhesive materials, hook-and-loop devices, or the like, to allow the retaining members 81, 82, 83, 84 of the base 10 and the pockets 15, 24 to be quickly disengaged or separated from each other when the tool 70 is pulled out of the respective pockets 15, 24.

In addition, when or after the tool 70 is engaged into the respective pockets 15, 24, the tool 70 may be quickly and easily and stably retain within the respective pockets 15, 24 by engaging the retaining members 81, 82, 83, 84 of the base 10 and the pockets 15, 24 with each other.

Accordingly, the tool case combination in accordance with the present invention includes a retaining structure or device to solidly retain plier tools or the like in the tool case.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A tool case combination comprising: a case including a base member, a first retaining member attached to said base member, at least one pocket provided on said case, and including an opening formed therein and defined by a panel, said panel and said at least one pocket including a middle portion, a tool including a pair of levers having a middle portion pivotally secured together with a pivot shaft, each of said levers including a handle provided on one end thereof and including a tool member provided on the other end thereof, said tool being engageable into said at least one pocket via said opening of said at least one pocket, and a second retaining member attached to said middle portion of said panel of said at least one pocket, to selectively engage with said first retaining member of said base member after said tool is engaged into said at least one pocket, and said first retaining member of said base member and said second retaining member of said panel of said at least one pocket being located between said handles of said levers, to detachably retain said tool in said at least one pocket.
 2. The tool case combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member includes a sleeve having a channel formed therein.
 3. The tool case combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member includes a clip attached thereto for attaching onto objects.
 4. The tool case combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said case further includes a second pocket provided on said case and having an opening formed therein and defined by a flap for selectively receiving said tool, a third retaining member attached to said base member, said flap of said second pocket includes a middle portion having a fourth retaining member attached thereto and selectively engageable with said third retaining member of said base member, and said third retaining member of said base member and said fourth retaining member of said flap of said second pocket being selectively located between said handles of said levers, to selectively and detachably retain said tool in said second pocket. 